Lauri’s Comments (group member since Jan 23, 2016)

Lauri’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Lauri's Spot!
Earth Day Read-a-Thon 2020
April 22 - 23

Lauri's Spot!
Start date 2/2/20 - Finish 2/2/21

Levels:
Tackle: 1-8 books
Hut: 9-17 books
Quarterback: 18-26 books
Receiver: 27-35 books
Touchdown: 36 + books

Read as many tasks as you can in the time allotted.
Re reads are allowed (6 month rule)
Page count = minimum 100 pages
Any format is allowed


~It's Superbowl time. Two teams are left competing for the Superbowl title. Pick a team.
Spell out(*) your favorite team
Or spell out one of the two remaining teams : San Francisco 49ers or Kansas City Chiefs

~This year's 54th Superbowl competition is being played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Read a book set in Florida
Read a book with "hard" in the title
Read a book set in a sports venue (baseball, boxing, hockey, rugby, etc)

~100 Million (give or take) viewers will tune in Sunday, February 2 to watch the Superbowl.
Read a book that is # 2 in a series
Read a book that features a character who is a football player
Read a book tagged sports
Spell out the word "February"

~What's a Superbowl without game time snacks? Pull up a snack and enjoy the game.
Read a book with a snack(s) on the cover (open to your interpretation)
Read a book with "snack " in the text
Spell out (*) these game time snacks
-Beer
-Chips
-Nachos
-Pizza
-Wings

~It's half-time and J Lo & Shakira are the Pepsi half-time performers ready to bring down the house.
Read a book about a musician(s)
Read a book about a character who works in advertising
Spell out (*) the word "Pepsi"

Game's over. Celebrate the win with your friends.
Read a book with 2 or more friends on the cover
Read a book with the word "win" in the title
Read a book about a character who is in a situation in which they win (open to interpretation)
Spell out (*) the word "win"


(*)Spell-it-Out Rules
Using the first letter in the book’s title, the first letter of the series name, the first letter in the author’s first or last name, or the first letter of a character’s first, last, or nick-name, or the first letter in the audio book narrator's first or last name.
If you are reading a translated version, you can also use the first letter of the translator's first or last name.

As always, if the first letter of a title starts with ‘A’, ‘An’, ‘The’, etc., you may use the first letter of the second word in the title to spell out your chosen word

Lauri's Scooby Doo Challenge
Start date 1/3/20
0 / 27
Levels :
Mystery Machine: 1-8 books
Scooby Snacks: 9-17 books
Jinkies! : 18-26 books
Scooby Doo: 27 books

Rules: Complete the options below.Mix & match if you wish. Minimum page number is 100. Tasks may be completed more than once but each book can only be used for one task. Any format is acceptable.

Option #1- Spell out (*) the word "Scooby Doo"

Option #2 - Complete the following tasks:
Read a book with a dog on the cover
Read a book with a pair of glasses on the cover
Read a book with a man with blond hair on the cover
Read a book with a van on the cover
Read a book with a woman wearing a skirt on the cover
Read a book with the word "mystery " in the title
Read a book with the letters "van" in the title
Read a book tagged mystery
Read a book with the letters "CBS " in the title
Read a book with a character named Fred
Read a book with a character named Daphne
Read a book with a character named Velma
Read a book in which a character loves clothes and fashion
Read a book tagged supernatural
Read a book that you think is scary
Read a book with a cover showing a man wearing a tie
Read a book with a cover that has high heels on it
Read a book in which someone is bribed


Option #3
Spell out (*) the following words:
(view spoiler)

Option #3
Spell out (*) the following words:
(view spoiler)

Option #4- Supernatural Creatures
Read books that have witches, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, zombie, ghosts, spirits, poltergeist, etc.































Option #4- Supernatural Creatures
Read books that have witches, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, zombie, ghosts, spirits, poltergeist, etc

Lauri's Spot!
TBR Tackler 2020

0 / 24

1. Bossypants
2. Yes, Please
3. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
4. Glory Over Everything
5. Eragon
6. A Clash of Kings
7. The Almost Sisters
8. Caramelo
9. Keeper of Light and Dust
10. Cream Puff Murder
11. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
12. Mahu Fire
13. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
14. The Raven Boys
15. The Midnight Palace
16. The Winter Ghosts
17. The Library at Mount Char
18. Red Rising
19. Holy Sister
20. The Harmony Silk Factory
21. The Sun is Also a Star
22. An Abundance of Katherines
23. The Preacher's Daughter
24. The Peach Keeper

Well, my experience was an EPIC failure! I managed only 3 out of 21 for the year! I think I must have adult ADD! I started out with the best of intentions, but my wayward brain kept wanting to read books that were NOT on my list. *Sigh*
I think I will try again, but perhaps my choices were just too meaty. There's a lot to be said for gravitas and good literature, but, hey, we all need some brain candy sometimes!

I had a blast with this challenge! I'd especially like to thank our captains for putting up with me and for all their hard work. Thank you to all my teammies-- it was great playing with all of you! See you soon!

Final completion post!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo byTaylor Jenkins Reid
Finished 12/16/19
Page count: 391
5 stars!
Works for green cover and or LBGT...

Completion post!
The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Finished 12/13/19
Page count: 407
Works for SIN BINGO!!

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Completion post!

A Catered Thanksgiving by Isis Crawford
Finished 12/8/19
Page count: 340
Works for yellow cover

[bookcover:A Catered Thanksgiving|794..."

Thank you Erin! You're the best!!

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Question - will The Chestnut Man still count for BOM points if I finish it this week?"

It will not count as a BOM. It has to be a month after start date, which would ..."
Okey dokey then.... I will concentrate on finishing what I have going instead! My plan for our last week is: The Girl With All the Gifts for a sin bingo, May We Be Forgiven -- my Thanksgiving pick, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and a nice, fluffy Christmas book....



Happy reading, everybody!

Question - will The Chestnut Man still count for BOM points if I finish it this week?

Completion post!

A Catered Thanksgiving by Isis Crawford
Finished 12/8/19
Page count: 340
Works for yellow cover



Could someone please add it to our spreadsheet for me?

Double completion post!!

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
Finished 12/6/19
Page count: 329
BOM: YES!
I still can't post links, but my msgs. are: #79, 211, 262, 288 & 289



Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Finished 12/6/19
Page count: 456
Works for blue cover and YA. ALSO mini challenge "want to read!"

Now I want a puppy!

Day 5 - Discussion Questions
Chapters 32 - End

24. Ellery keeps coming up with somewhat plausible theories, but is getting shut down in chapter 32 since another theory was proven false. Still, her mind is always working. Do you think she's showing intelligence with some of her theories or do you think she's reaching too far and just making a fool of herself playing detective?
I'm right there with her! I don't think she's a fool at all. The police have been too low key with everything. Never found Sarah, nothing much discovered about Lacey -- now they find Brooke's body far away... For such a small town, this is just too much coincidence.

25. Do you think Declan is being fair to Malcolm in the apartment getting so upset? What do you think about them making up later; was this all realistic?
I think both Declan & Malcolm have their own issues & would probably benefit from some nice meds and visits with mental health professionals. No one can say with any certainty how anyone should act in order for it to seem "realistic."

26. Were you surprised about who the killer turned out to be? Was this a good twist and well done for a mystery, or were you not satisfied?
I think it was an excellent twist! I never once considered the actual guilty party. I was going off on all sorts of tangents with Ellery.

27. Do you think the mother had something going on with the killer in her past, based on the last line that he whispered in Ellery's ear?
Most definitely. Sad to think that he couldn't distinguish between the 2 girls, though.

28. Overall, what do you think of the book? Would you read more of the author?
I was creeped out, but I think I would read just about anything she wrote. Very entertaining overall.

Day 1 DQs

1. At the very beginning we are hit with a chilling image and as Officer Marius is descending into the basement looking for one of the little girls he "...becomes aware of the room. Glancing around, he realizes what it's been used for. He's disgusted." What do you think this room was used for?
Not too sure at this point...Rape? Torture?

2. We get brief look at what happens to Laura before Thulin and Hess get called out to the scene. While looking over the body and the garden Thulin notices a chestnut doll and has an odd reaction to it. "It's a simple doll consisting of two spheres and four sticks, but briefly, for some reason she can't explain, it makes Thulin's heart stop." Why do you think she had a strong reaction? Could it be a repressed memory?
Must be something in her past triggering such a reaction. I need to know more!

3. Speaking of Thulin and Hess. I'm a bit put off by the both of them. Thulin seems to think homicide is boring and Hess just seems to not give a flying rat's behind about anything. What do you think of our MCs so far?
They almost seem like minor characters. I'm much more involved with Rosa right now than either of those two...

4. Then we have Rosa and Steen, the parents of Kristine who is missing and presumed dead. They each have a different way of handling their grief. Rosa has thrown herself into her work as a politician and Steen is drowning his sorrows in alcohol. As a parent it's really hard to imagine losing a child. How do you think you would handle losing your child? Do you think their reactions are typical for parents who have lost a child?
I would probably go into a deep depression. I have only one son, and although he's already an adult, just the though of losing him makes me ill.

5. Do you think Kristine Hartung is still alive? Or is it a cruel joke being played on her parents? Why or why not?
I think she is being kept alive & it making the chestnut figures for some sick reason.....

DQ Day 5 - Chapters 26-31

20. We now know who the father of the twins is. Have you suspected him? Do you think that the way they have discovered it was too accidental/not very realistic?
I'm not really surprised at all. Poor Ryan, though, to find out so strangely. Sadie really is a piece of work not to have told the twins.

21. How do you think why did Sadie lie about who the father of the twins was? Was it only because he was a married man and she didn't want to ruin his family?
Sadie only cares about Sadie. She must have an ulterior motive for everything she does & all the havoc she wreaks.

22. Ellery now has Kyle and Liz as her suspects. Do you agree with her? Or do you have somebody else in mind?
I admit that I didn't give Kyle much thought and Liz didn't even cross my mind at all. I'm so confused now! What about Katrin?

23. Malcolm invites Ellery to a clown museum, which sounds very interesting to me. Would you like to visit such a museum? Or have you visited a similiar or other non-traditional museum?
Clowns totally creep me out -- even before IT! So definitely negatory!!

Day 4 - Discussion Questions

16. It seems that one character has so far flown under the radar and yet to me is highly suspicious. The Policeman, Ryan Rodriguez has been in every scene and yet only at the end of this section is he coming under Ellery’s suspicion, I think he may be working alone or in concert with other characters – Why might I be thinking this and who might he be working with?
I was thinking he's involved ever since it was mentioned that he was so broken up at the funeral.... I'm guessing that Vance has something to do with it all.

17. Why did Sarah go missing? She wasn’t in the homecoming court so why her? Is the reason for this the reason Sadie feels so guilty?
Well, Sarah & Sadie were twins, so it might have been a mistake & by then it was too late to fix. Sadie knows more than she's letting on. She probably should feel guilty.

18. Viv changes her mind about a connection between what happened previously and what is happening now she is quoted as saying “Even if someone was unhinged enough to get away with murder and brag about it five years later, the MOs are completely different” Why do you think she changes her mind and do you think she is right about there being no connection?
She probably isn't all that smart plus Ellery has a long standing fascination with true crime. She's much more analytical than Viv.

19. Everything started after the death of the teacher on the overpass – do you think there is a connection between that and the developing storyline . Do you think Malcolm, Ellery and Ezra will tell someone what they have found out?
They'll have to tell an authority figure eventually. I just hope that none of them ends up dying!

Reading update: I still hope to finish [book:The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoFall of Giants|7315573] before the end of the challenge. I will definitely finish A Catered Thanksgiving and BOM Two Can Keep a Secret this week. I have Sorcery of Thorns almost finished which can go for this week's mini as well as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo... I remain hopefully optimistic!

It's me and I'm still alive! I had the last 5 days off and hardly got any reading time in at all!! We did Thanksgiving at my in-laws' on Thursday & then a big 90th birthday party for my father-in-law on Saturday. It all went very well, but I'm exhausted! I've been cooking since Tuesday evening. I'm almost looking forward to going back to work just so I can sit down!! I hope everybody who celebrates had a nice Thanksgiving... It's so hard to believe it's already December.